Editing Navigation (section)

====Satellite navigation====
{{Further|Satellite navigation}}
[[File:Furuno Electric GPS Navigator GP-80 at Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior II 20110108.jpg|thumb|right|A ship's Furuno GNSS receiver showing a GPS position]]
A GNSS allow small [[electronics|electronic]] receivers to determine their location ([[longitude]], [[latitude]], and [[altitude]]) within a few meters using [[time signal]]s transmitted along a [[Line-of-sight propagation|line of sight]] by [[radio]] from [[satellite]]s.<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS"/> Positions derived can then be used with maps and charts for [[satellite navigation]]. Since the first experimental satellite was launched in 1978, GNSS have become an indispensable aid to navigation around the world, and an important tool for [[cartography|map-making]] and [[surveying|land surveying]]. GNSS also provides a precise [[time transfer|time reference]] used in many applications including scientific study of [[earthquake]]s, and [[synchronization]] of telecommunications networks. Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS is the term for satellite navigation systems that provide positioning with global coverage.<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS">{{cite book | title=Safe Nav Watch | publisher=[[Witherby Publishing Group]] | publication-place=Livingston, Scotland | date=2023 | isbn=978-1-914993-46-6 | page=34-36}}</ref>  The first system, GPS was developed by the [[United States Department of Defense]] and officially named NAVSTAR GPS (NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging Global Positioning System). The [[satellite constellation]] is managed by the [[United States Air Force]] [[50th Space Wing]]. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately [[United States dollar|US$]]750 million per year,<ref name="GPS overview from JPO">[http://gps.losangeles.af.mil/jpo/gpsoverview.htm GPS Overview from the NAVSTAR Joint Program Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928042828/http://gps.losangeles.af.mil/jpo/gpsoverview.htm |date=2006-09-28 }}. Accessed December 15, 2006.</ref> including the replacement of aging satellites, and research and development. Despite this fact, GPS is free for civilian use as a [[Public good (economics)|public good]].

With improvements in technology and developments globally, as of 2024, there are several different operational GNSS now available for navigation by the public. These include the [[United States]] NAVSTAR [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS), the [[Russia]]n [[GLONASS]], the [[European Union]]'s [[Galileo positioning system]] and the [[Beidou navigation system]] of [[China]].<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS"/> The different global systems have varying differences in accuracy but stated positions are normally in the range of between 1 and 10 metres accuracy depending on system and on that system's satellite coverage.<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS"/> As a result over 100 satellites are in [[medium Earth orbit]], transmitting signals allowing GNSS receivers to determine the receiver's [[geographic location|location]], speed and direction.<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS"/> There are also several regional GNSS systems available for navigation, including the [[Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System]] and the [[Quasi-Zenith Satellite System]]. However, not all GNSS receivers are capable of operating with these systems and older GNSS receivers, such as on old ships may not be capable of receiving all of the GNSS now available to users.<ref name="SafeNavWatchGNSS"/>

Modern [[smartphones]] act as personal [[GNSS]] navigators for civilians who own them. Overuse of these devices, whether in the vehicle or on foot, can lead to a relative inability to learn about navigated environments, resulting in sub-optimal navigation abilities when and if these devices become unavailable.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gardony|first=Aaron L|date=April 2013|title=How Navigational Aids Impair Spatial Memory: Evidence for Divided Attention|journal=Spatial Cognition & Computation|volume=13|issue=4|pages=319–350|doi=10.1080/13875868.2013.792821|bibcode=2013SpCC...13..319G |s2cid=7905481}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gardony|first=Aaron L.|date=June 2015|title=Navigational Aids and Spatial Memory Impairment: The Role of Divided Attention|journal=Spatial Cognition & Computation|volume=15|issue=4|pages=246–284|doi=10.1080/13875868.2015.1059432|bibcode=2015SpCC...15..246G |s2cid=42070277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Spatial Information Theory|last=Winter|first=Stephen|publisher=Springer Berlin|year=2007|isbn=978-3540747888|location=Heidelberg, Germany|pages=238–254}}</ref> Typically a [[compass]] is also provided to determine direction when not moving.